Anxiety
«Above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one» (Ephesians 6:16).
She had learned to surf when she was only four years old; and at eight, she participated in her first sports competition where she finished in first place, both in -longboard and in shortboard. Two years later, she won the first prize in other three categories, competing against men and women older than her. Her love for surf surpassed the comfort of her bed as she trained in the early hours of the morning. It was exactly before 8 AM when Bethany was attacked by a tiger shark that severed her left arm, causing the loss of more than half of her blood. Despite the seriousness of the accident, Bethany Hamilton did not fall apart nor get depressed. It was as if the adversity hit a brick wall without disrupting this girl of only thirteen years old. A few weeks later, without fear of what happened, she was back in the water, learning to swim and surf with only one arm left. Since then, she started competing again, winning great prizes in competitions in the United States, Brazil and Australia.
What shield did Bethany use to withstand the hardships of her life with such determination? In her autobiographical book, published in 2004, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, she relates that it was her faith in Jesus Christ that helped her endure and overcome adversities. The apostle Paul recommends the same protection in his letter to the Ephesians when he says, «Above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.» But how can faith help in this battle? Bethany found strength mainly by reading the following message: «For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope» (Jer. 29:11). She not only read it, but she also clung to it; and when she admitted that God had good plans for her future, she was filled with hope and vigor.
Do you understand how this shield works? Each passage of the Scripture must be transformed into a personal message. You can apply every passage of the Scripture to your life because His Word has been written as a personal letter to you.
Is there something that causes you anxiety or unhappiness? Put on the protective shield. You can seize every biblical promise to withstand what is to come.
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Yudith C & Alejandra Zavala
